Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification

摘要: Current efforts in combating food insecurity sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) focus on agricultural intensification. Given the high soil nutrient depletions, replenishing fertility is a major component of such efforts. One key nutrients limiting crop production phosphorus (P). Overcoming P deficiency smallholder farming SSA faces many challenges, mainly because causes deficiencies vary, and viable options to replenish have limitations. In some areas, associated with low reserve, while others, it results from P-adsorption capacity. Numerous studies focused developing approaches strategies potential or improve its availability crops. This paper highlights that been studied, including use soluble fertilizers, phosphate rocks organic resources. The contribution fertilizers limited by their cost, most are not mined. Replenishing through resources constrained often content inadequate farms. Optimizing efficiency appears as plausible target pending an increased accessibility sources farmers. Practices towards this optimization include strategic sequences allocation crops, P-efficient genotypes, targeting residual P. Research needed gaps understanding processes governing benefits these practices. Since replenishment fertilizer dependent, greater attention required enhancing